Support grows for Catherine Atkinson’s campaign for shorter GP waiting times

Published:16:38Thursday 22 January 2015

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More than 1,000 people have signed a petition calling for shorter GP appointment waiting times.

The campaign ws led by Catherine Atkinson, Labour’s candidate for MP in Erewash.

This week it emerged in a survey of patients that across England, nearly one million patients turned to A&E when they couldn’t see a GP. In Erewash the number was 806.

Ms Atkinson said: “I’ve spoken to so many people who are waiting weeks for a GP appointment - it’s a huge issue. For the sake of patients who face longer waits to be seen, I hope our campaign will in some way encourage a much needed change in direction.

“A Labour government will provide 8,000 more family doctors, and will guarantee a GP appointment within 48 hours and on the same day for those who need it.

“From the start of our lives to the very end the NHS is there for us. Let’s fight for it.”

Catherine originally highlighted the problem last year: One in every five patients in Erewash faced a wait of a week or more when they phoned for an appointment, according to an NHS survey.

The survey also found one in four patients in England waits a week or more for an appointment.